27 Jul 2018 21:33

Patrushev, Bolton could meet before end of summer, place and date have yet to be agreed on - Ryabkov

JOHANNESBURG. July 27 (Interfax) - Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton could meet before the end of this summer, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"We are working on the possibility of such a meeting and hoping that it may be held in the nearest future," Ryabkov told reporters.

"At least, I proceed from the understanding that it can happen before the end of the summer. Specific dates are subject to further discussion, as is the venue," Ryabkov said.

"I would refrain for now from concrete schedules, for you can see what has been happening recently in terms of all kinds of moments of uncertainty appearing in the way our U.S. colleagues approach contact schedules," Ryabkov said.

"Of course, we took note of the thought coming from the White House a few days ago that the meeting between the Russian Security Council secretary and the UN president's national security advisor was almost the only arrangement reached at the Helsinki summit. In that case, we leave it to the U.S. to interpret which agreements were reached and which were not," the Russian diplomat said.